Fuel-press.



Patented lune I2, I900.

G. W. MURPHY.

FUEL PRE SS. (Application filed Aug. 15, 1899.)

WITNESSES mm INVENTOH A TTOHNEYS n1: mom-us PETERS co PnoYc-Lrma.WASH'NGTON. n. c

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. MURPHY, OF NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA.

FUEL-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,722, dated June 12,1900.

Application filed August 1 5, 1 89 9.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. MURPHY, of Northfield, in the county ofRice and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and ImprovedFuel-Press, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for pressing straw andthe like into compact form for use as fuel; and the apparatus involves anovelmeans by which the straw is pressed and cut into blocks suitablefor the purpose mentioned.

This specification .is the disclosure of one form of my invention, whilethe claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is aplan View of the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

- Fig. 4 is asection on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

The apparatus is mounted on a wheeled frame 5 and comprises acompressing-chamber6 of conical form, the base of which is provided witha cylindrical extension 6, forming a receiving-chamber, the top of whichhas an opening therein for the reception of the straw. Spring-presseddogs 7 are mounted on the cylindrical receiving-section 6, the dogsserving to prevent the return of the straw when pushed from thereceiving-chamber into the compressing-chamber. The compressing-chamberis formed with an internal spiral thread 8, which serves to give themateriala twist during its progress to the small or discharge end of thecompression-chamber, thus increasing the compression effected. Aplunger-head 9 works in the receiving-chamber 6 and is formed with aperipheral flange having guide-lugs 10, extended rearwardly therefrom,the flange and guide-lugs serving to cause the plunger-head'to move truein the receiving chamber. This plunger head is driven by a pitman 11,which is connected to a wrist-pin 12, the Wrist-pin being fastenedbetween two spur-wheels 14, mounted in the frame and driven by pinions15, which mesh therewith and which are carried on a primary-movementshaft 16, furnished with a band-pulley '17 to carry the driving-belt. As

Serial No. 727,313. (No model.)

the plunger-head is withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 2 the strawis inserted sion-chamber, thus cutting the compressed straw into uniformlengths. The knife 19 is driven by a link 20, connected therewith andwith a crank-shaft 21. This crank-shaft is mounted in the frame andcarries a pinion 22. The pinion 22 meshes with a mutilated internal gear23, also mounted to turn in the frame, the arrangement being such thatfor each revolution of the wheel 22 the shaft 21 is also given onerevolution. The mutilated gear 23 has its periphery engaged by a chain24, which passes rearwardly to and around a sprocket-wheel 25, which isfastened to the axle of one of the spur-wheels 14. It will thus be seenthat the knife 19 is actuated in time with the movements of the plunger.The straw is compressed in and forced through the compression-chamberand projected into the delivery-tube 1S and is simultaneously cut by theknife 19.

The operation of the plunger in compressing the straw is assisted by thespiral thread- 8 within the compression-chamber, and the result is thatthe fuel is so tightly compressed that it will not be necessary toemploy a band for holding it. A slight expansion may ooour after thepassage of the straw from the formed therein, a receiving-chambercolumn;

nicating with the rear end ofthe compression-- chamber, plung r o kingin the r c i n mhambe to f rc th ma eria into and.

'thi gh the comp ession- 1.11am her, th th ead if 1111 .6 c mpressioambe e ing t t rn he material to be Qmpr Ss d, caus ng t t be rolledinto compact form, a knif ea,m0unted t he ils'ehafg 'ii elf-thecemnressio her, and means for driving the plunger and knife, the knifeserving periodically to sever into lengths the-material compressed.

3. In a fuel-press, the combination of a conlic'al cni'nprfssidiliihaflibel havin a Spiral thread formed therein, and a plunger mountt edtoregiprocateat the large or receiving end of the compression-chamberand serving to force the material to be compressed longitufinally intoand through the compr chamher, the thread ofth'e compression-chamberserving "to" turn the material to be compressed, causing it to be rolledinto compact 'form.

GEQBGE. W. MURPHY.

W tnesses;

H. PRESHO, E Q- RIQE

